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Harrison Square
Walkway Approval Meetings
The Redevelopment Commission meeting
- Approval of Resolution 2007-90, which approved the
execution of a Capital Improvement and Access Agreement with
the Embassy Theatre Foundation, Inc. in regards to the walkway
between the Indiana Hotel and new Courtyard by Marriott.
- Greg Leatherman gave background of the project, stating it
was demanded by White Lodging to have physical connectability
between the new hotel and Grand Wayne Center. Three ways
were explored:
- Under Jefferson Boulevard and directly into the Grand
Wayne Center. However, the depth of the tunnel would
require the constant pumping of water due to ground water
levels in the area. This would prove cost prohibitive.
- Over Jefferson Boulevard and into the Grand Wayne
Center. However, this would require altering the
Convention Center which was not deemed a good choice
aesthetically.
- The third option was to connect via the Indiana
Hotel/Embassy Theatre. This is the option chosen which
will provide elevators and stairwells to the upper floors of
the Indiana Hotel. Leatherman called this a, "Win-win
situation."
- Steve Brody talked about the costs of the project which
initially were reported to be estimated between $900,000 and
$1 million. The projected cost is now $1,831,394.
Of the $831,394 added as a result of the new agreement,
$550,000 will come from the Goldstine Foundation, $300,000
from interest from the taxable bonds and sale of the
Retail/Condo property to Barry Real Estate. The rest of
the money has already been allocated from the Harrison Square
budget. He split this cost into two parts:
- Work required by the Hotel Developer (White Lodging)
which includes the pedestrian corridor through the 3rd
floor. He reported this cost to be approximately $1
million. There is a lift that would have to be
installed at the East end of the corridor that would allow
for handicap access. There is a
difference between the 3rd floor and the level of the
existing walkway between the Embassy Theatre and Grand Wayne
Center.
- Work required by the Embassy Theatre and Indiana Hotel
includes storage reconfiguration, an elevator shaft and
stairwell from 3 to 7 on the East side of the pedestrian
corridor, and an elevator on the West side and stairwell
again from from floors 3 to 7. This would turn the
Indiana Hotel into, "a developable opportunity." The
cost would be just over $850,000.
- The Park that will be built West of the new hotel will now
have a parking lot built in the northern part to accommodate
the large trucks that bring shows to the Embassy Theatre.
The cost of this parking lot will be split between the City
Parks Department and Harrison Square project and the
responsibility of the Parks Department.
- The agreements have been written and are just waiting for
final approvals. Leatherman expected the agreements to
be executed Tuesday, November 27, 2007.
- Commissioner Karen Goldner asked who would be responsible
for inspection and keeping an eye on the structure. It
was answered that the Embassy would be responsible for this.
Brody was not sure who would pay for any maintenance cost.
The area in question is approximately 1,000 square feet and
it's estimated the annual maintenance cost would be $6 to $7
per square foot which means $6-7,000. It was suggested
that maintenance could also come out of TIF funds, of which
only 50% have been allocated to Harrison Square. It
could also be covered as a part of the infrastructure amount
for the capital improvements of the street and sidewalks along
Harrison Street.
- There is a $152,762 construction contingency fund built
into the cost of the project. This would be for cost
overruns or unforeseen needs.
- Christopher Guerin, Head of the Redevelopment Commission,
asked when the project would begin construction. He was
told it would happen right away and that all work is to be
completed by the Courtyard's opening day.
- Guerin also asked if White Lodging is interested in
developing the upper floors of the Indiana Hotel once the
project is completed and was told as of now, there is no
official interest, however that can be explored further down
the road. This was part of the RFP's for the 3rd
downtown hotel issued before Harrison Square became a project.
Local Historic Preservation Board
- The board met to discuss and approve a Certificate of
Appropriateness for the project. Case No.: HPC
11-26-07-1
- It was stated that the walkway will not be physically
connected to the Indiana Hotel. There will be some
expansion joints that will complete the connection. Other than
the hole made where one of the windows now resides, anything
done for the walkway can be removed at a later date with
little impact on the building. It will connect just
South of the Northwest corner where the
wall of the embassy recedes.
- Care will be taken to match colors of materials used in
the walkway to those of the existing building. The
walkway will mostly be glass, except for the steel frame and
carriage. This simplicity will allow the building to be seen
through the walkway. The glass used will have a bit of a
tint, but is as opaque as possible.
- A citizen asked whether the use of state or federal funds
would necessitate approval from the State Historic
Preservation Board. However, since only local TIFF
funds/taxes will be used, this approval is not needed.
- The Board voted unanimously to approve the Certificate.
From the Staff Review of the
Certificate of Appropriateness:
- Style of the building was listed as Spanish Eclectic and
it's integrity as altered.
- Construction of the walkway will necessitate removal of a
single window and a small portion of the plain brick wall and
installation of a set of double doors.
- Moving the walkway further South would not work due to the
stage renovations a few years ago. The planned
connection point is in line with an original delivery/egress
on the first floor.
- "Structural analysis determined that it would not be a
good idea to tie a movable load such as an overhead walkway
directly into the static structure of the Indiana Hotel."
- "The proposed location of the walkway in the plain brick
wall retains as much of the existing building fabric as
possible, so that future removal of the addition could be
achieved without significant damage to the original
structure."
- "Through the simplicity and lightness of its design the
walkway does not radically change the original scale and
architectural character of the historic building. The
proposed walkway is recognizable as a product of its own time
and does not create a false sense of historical development.
The distinctive character-defining features of the historic
building are preserved."
- "Although various schemes have been proposed, the former
hotel space in floors 3 through 7 has remained vacant since
the hotel closed c. 1970. With utilization of the third
floor to provide a link to the Grand Wayne, a new elevator
shaft and stairway will be constructed at the east end of the
building and a new elevator will be installed in one of the
original shafts at the west end which should make the upper
floors more attractive to new development."
The Staff Recommendations:
- Final drawings of the walkway must be submitted to the HPC
staff for review prior to initiating the construction.
- The window unit and brick that are removed should be
salvaged for future reuse at the building.
- The dark band and glass framing shown as black on the
submitted rendering of the walkway should be finished in a
dark tan to light bronze color to better blend with the
building.
- Any changes or additions to the proposal must be submitted
to the HPC for approval prior to initiation.
- All required permits must be obtained from the appropriate
agencies.
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